Collins has not played since announcing he was gay in April, so the next time he steps on the court will be a trailblazing event. And for the Nets, who have been stealing headlines lately by hiring Kidd and completing a blockbuster trade Thursday for Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, (it won’t become official until July 10), it’s a chance to represent a different kind of Brooklyn — which is home to a large gay and lesbian community.

Collins should feel right at home with the Nets, according to the Global Grind, which reports that "he was teammates with Nets coach Jason Kidd in New Jersey, where they both played under current Brooklyn assistant Lawrence Frank."